For a time, arcade boxes and cartridges ushered in a golden age for the video gaming industry as a whole. It binded an entire community together which then helped create publicity for these games. Eventually, many industries took notice of its success, including the gambling sector.
A few gambling establishments drew inspiration from the entertainment that arcade games are known to provide. Whenever casino game developers create a game, they also make sure to draw inspiration from prominent the best offerings that the arcade birthed. From the vibrant visuals to the engaging gameplay mechanics, here is how the arcade imparted its historical brilliance to the iGaming industry.
Enjoying arcade games
Back when it was first introduced to the world, arcade games were known for their competitive nature while remaining simple with their mechanics. Games such as Pacman consisted of a maze, for example, and all players had to do was to score big on the leaderboard as a competitive objective. The challenge here is to survive the game without losing the game from getting beaten by ghosts. Players can prove they are the better Pacman player when they finally climb the leaderboard.
After a few developments made by the industry, games where players are pitted against each other in the spirit of competition were born. The most common and popular among these, of course, are fighting games. Street Fighter introduced the idea and it has since been a staple in most arcades across the globe, followed by the Tekken franchise.
Another popular arcade game genre is cooperative games. Some shooters like Time Crisis or Contra have players working towards a common objective. They do their best to keep each other alive to ensure that they beat the game. The variety that arcade games have can cater to almost any player that loves to explore and as a result, the simple but engaging gameplay mechanics resonate to a very large audience.
With the scale of its success and its mainstream popularity, arcade games are still some of the best mediums that provide high-quality entertainment. Its foothold in the gaming industry has been recognized by iGaming developers and they have taken notes when it comes to creating their own magic for their own platforms.
How iGaming takes inspiration from arcade games
iGaming developers have since looked for ways to apply aspects found in these arcade games to augment their own plans to make their industry improve its longevity and popularity. Modern products from the iGaming industry attempt to create projects that are interactive, competitive, engaging, or ideally, a combination of all of them.
Arcade games have always been attached to position progressions, hence the leaderboards integrated in most games developed for arcade enjoyment. The iGaming industry incorporated this aspect by the use of gamification. In most online digital or mobile gambling platforms like betway, players can compete for positions on their own leaderboards to increase the rate and quality of competition in their games. Some of the most popular iGaming products, such as online slots, now host a leaderboard. If a player has a position in the rankings, they might be entitled for incentives coming from the online casino!
There are also rewards systems in place for loyal players, which is also incorporated in most arcades, but this comes from the place itself and not the games. Just like in physical arcades in malls, online digital or mobile gambling platforms like betway also incentivize players who keep coming back to play their games. Sometimes, it would be in the form of free spins or extra bonuses when they win a prize.
iGaming developers also made their own cooperative games, similar to mechanics in popular arcade titles like Metal Slug or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Traditionally, casino games tend to be solitary endeavors, with examples being blackjack or roulette being the most popular. One of the most famous casino games of all time is poker and it can be very competitive. However, the emergence of products such as Monopoly Live sees players share betting objectives where participants can win together. There are also a few modern twists to traditional poker, such as team poker, where players have to work together to secure their prizes against opposing teams.
Finally, a few online casinos might also host tournaments for players to compete for a grand prize. Arcades are also known to host competitive tournaments, especially with fighting games and even their dance machines, to stimulate their community’s economy. It is the same for online casinos, where most high rollers are invited to participate in poker tournaments.
Homage to arcade gaming
Recently, modern iGaming products make direct references to arcade culture to make their own interpretations. Several online casino providers have successfully integrated arcade-style elements into their offering. Space arcade slots, for example, is a direct homage to games like Space Invaders or Galaga. Mechanics from the popular arcade game, such as spaceship battles and alien encounters can show up in the game. Once they’re cleared, players are entitled to bonuses on top of their wins or even free spins.
A fascinating iGaming and arcade hybrid was also recently produced. Pinball slots are an innovative fusion of traditional pinball machines and slot games, offering a more interactive gambling experience. Apart from traditional slot reels, this game also has flippers, bumpers, and bonus zones present in its mechanics. These can influence a player’s earnings vastly, just like an actual pinball machine!
The relationship between esports and iGaming
Another influential industry to iGaming product improvement is the rise of esports. Much like competitive arcade games that fueled high-score rivalries, some online casino platforms now offer skill-based competitions where players can bet on their abilities rather than just luck. Streaming tournaments and games are also inhabiting the online casino space, an integral technology for the growth of esports. In addition, streaming also lets iGaming players interact with live dealers for a more immersive experience.
Redefining iGaming through the influence of arcade games has been an exciting endeavor to follow. The innovation seems to trend even more, which means collaborations between the two industries could remain fruitful as time goes on.
